Influence of pinealectomy and photoperiod on courtship and nest-building in male doves

Sham-operated male doves displayed greater nesting activity under long days (16L:8D) than under short days (8L:16D). This difference was abolished by pinealectomy—the activity of long-day pinealectomized birds dropped to a level comparable to that seen on short days. Removal of the pineal had no effect under the short photoperiod. These results are not due to changes in peripheral androgen production as castrated, testosterone-implanted males also exhibited higher levels of nest-building on long days if sham-operated, but not if they were pinealectomized. Neither treatment had a significant effect on courtship or copulatory behavior. It is suggested that the pineal mediates the stimulatory effect of long photoperiods on hormonally-induced nest-building in doves.     

Behavioral correlates of oral and postingestive satiety in the rat

Hungry rats display the characteristic "satiety sequence" after drinking a glucose solution: The end of ingestion is accompanied by grooming and exploring, followed by resting. With saccharin solutions over a range of concentrations, however, ingestion is accompanied and followed by persistent grooming and exploring; resting rarely occurs. Gastric preloads of glucose solution promote resting to reinstate the "satiety sequence" after a bout of saccharin ingestion. Therefore, the systemic effects of glucose are sufficient to promote resting. In the absence of postingestive factors, the "satiety sequence" is incomplete following saccharin ingestion as it is after sham-feeding.     

Comparison of gastric, duodenal and jejunal contributions to the inhibition of food intake in the rat

Rats equipped with tubes leading to their stomach, duodenum or jejunum were infused with a liquid diet for 9 hr (4 ml/hr) and were allowed to eat during the last 8 hr of infusion. All rats ate significantly less on diet infusion days than on saline or no infusion days. A second study showed that a taste aversion could not be conditioned to flavored water associated with diet infusion. Apparently, intrajejunal injection of nutrients produces satiety and not discomfort. Infusion of the diet for 5 consecutive days into the stomach, duodenum or jejunum consistently and significantly lowered food intake by reducing meal size, not meal frequency. Results suggest that the small intestine below the infusion site contributes to normal satiety.     

A microcomputer-based data acquisition system for continuous recording of feeding and drinking by rats

A monitoring system to continuously record the daily pattern of drinking and eating of rats is described. This system, based on a North Star microcomputer, can record the amount of food ingested with a temporal resolution of +/- 1.0 second and quantitative accuracy within +/- 5%. Drinking behavior is detected using a drinkometer which also has a temporal resolution of +/- 1.0 second. Data are analyzed by computer to determine absolute amounts of consumption and patterns of intake. The patterns of feeding and drinking recorded by this system are similar to those observed using other monitoring devices.     

Rat self administration of ethanol: Enhancement by darkness and exogenous melatonin

Using an FT 60 schedule, rats on 100% free feeding tested in the dark phase of a 12:12 light-dark cycle were trained to self-administer ethanol intravenously. The effect was dose-dependent with 20% ethanol being the preferred dose as measured by the number of infusions. Daily administration of 1.5 mg/kg melatonin significantly increased ethanol self-injection in the dark but not in the light. The time of day of testing and/or drug administration may be an important variable in studies on self-administration of drugs. Testing in the dark may eliminate the need for reducing body weight when inducing self-administration of ethanol.     

幼儿攻击性行为游戏矫正的倒返设计研究

目的：探讨幼儿集体游戏用于矫正幼儿攻击性行为的效果。方法：采用倒返实验，对三名被试进行了游戏矫正。结果：三名被试在实验的基线阶段有明显的攻击性行为，游戏介入后攻击性行为明显减少，游戏取消后攻击性行为再度增加，游戏再次介入后，攻击性行为再次明显减少；方差检验的结果表明，被试在基线阶段的攻击性行为与游戏矫正后的攻击性行为差异极显著。结论：运用自然的幼儿集体游戏可以矫正幼儿的攻击性行为。     

Comparison of Changes in Glutamate Levels in the Nucleus Accumbens of the Rat Brain during Food Consumption in Conditions of Blockade of Dopamine D1 and D2 Receptors

The effects of blockade of D₁ and D₂ dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens on changes in glutamate levels in the intercellular space of this structure during food consumption were studied in Sprague–Dawley rats by intracerebral microdialysis combined with HPLC. These experiments showed that food consumption was accompanied by decreases in glutamate levels in the intercellular spaces of the nucleus accumbens. Blockade of D₁ dopamine receptors with SCH-23390 (0.01 mM) produced no changes in the dynamics of glutamate release during food consumption. Food consumption in conditions of blockade of D₂ dopamine receptors with raclopride (0.01 mM) induced increases in glutamate levels. These data suggest that glutamate levels during food consumption are controlled by the dopaminergic system of the nucleus accumbens, mediated by D₂ but not D₁ dopamine receptors.     

Neurological aspects of del(1q) syndrome

We have studied three children with de novo terminal deletion of the long arm of chromosome 1 (46,XX,del(1)(q43)). They all have minor anomalies and neurological signs (severe psychomotor developmental delay, generalized hypotonia, and seizures) that have been described previously. In addition, all of these three patients have autistic-like behavior. They avoid eye contact, show no interest in people, express little emotion, and repeat stereotypic movements such as head nodding and purposeless finger manipulation. They also spend excessive time in making unusual sounds consisting of a high-pitched shrill cry with little intonation in infancy and a harsh, strained, and glottal stridency in later life. They make no labial, lingual, or nasal sounds. We suggest that these observations may be unique clinical manifestations of certain terminal 1q deletions.     

Vagal mediation of the cholecystokinin satiety effect in rats

Central (intracerebroventricular) and peripheral (intraperitoneal) injections of the octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-8) were compared to determine the most effective route of administration to elicit satiety for food intake in the rat. Subdiaphragmatic bilateral vagotomy and spinal cordotomy (T2-T3) were also performed to investigate the importance of visceral nerves for the satiety effect. CCK-8 suppressed feeding and elicited satiety resting behavior when injected peripherally but it was less effective when injected centrally. The satiety effect of CCK-8 or CCK-33 following peripheral injections was blocked by vagotomy whereas spinal cordotomy had no effect. The results indicate that some component of the vagus is required to mediate the peripherally induced cholecystokinin satiety effect, but the splanchnic nerves are not necessary. The weak effect of CCK-8 following ventricular administration is additional evidence suggesting that cholecystokinin of intestinal origin acts in the periphery rather than directly on the brain to elicit its typically rapid satiety effect in rats.     

行为问题儿童的生活质量及其影响因素调查

目的:探讨行为问题儿童的生活质量及影响因素.方法:采用Conners量表和儿少主观生活质量问卷调查2087例少年儿童的行为问题和生活质量,然后将问题儿童与正常儿童的结果做比较.结果:行为问题儿童的生活质量明显低于正常儿童,相关分析显示儿少主观生活质量问卷与Conners量表父母问卷和教师评定量表的部分因子存在不同程度的相关.逐步回归显示儿童的学业、行为问题、家庭经济、父亲性格、年龄、父母对不良行为的处理方式、独生共7个变量影响着儿童的生活质量.结论:行为问题儿童生活质量下降,需要得到学校、家庭、同伴、社会等多方面的关怀帮助.